OSHA Inspection: WESTBY HARDWOOD PRODUCTS

Issued

Sep 27, 2012

Abate by

Nov 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that caused or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm in that employees were exposed to combustible wood dust explosion, deflagration, or other fire hazards while working at or near dust collection system which were not adequately designed to prevent or minimize employee exposure in the event of a deflagration or other uncontrolled fire event:   On or about June 19, 2012, employees were exposed to combustible wood dust deflagration, explosion or other fire hazards:  a) The specialty area outside dust collector (media-type air material separator) lacked means of deflagration isolation between the dust collector and the facility.  b) The outside surge bin associated with buildings B,C and D lacked means of explosion protection.  AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE MEANS OF ABATEMENT WOULD BE TO COMPLY WITH GUIDELINES OUTLINED IN THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (NFPA) 664: STANDARD FOR THE PREVENTION OF FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS IN THE WOOD PROCESSING AND WOODWORKING FACILITIES, 2007 EDTITION: Section 8.2.4.1 by providing listed isolation devices in accordance with NFPA 69 Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems on the upstream and downstream ducting connected to the specialty area building; and NFPA 664 Section 8.10.3.2 by providing the outside surge bin with deflagration venting in accordance with NFPA 68 Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting OR an explosion protection system in accordance with NFPA 69.   Abatement Schedule   STEP 1 -A combination of administrative controls shall be implemented as an interim protective measure until feasible engineering and administrative controls can be permanently implemented.   STEP 2 -A written detailed plan of abatement shall be submitted to the Area Director outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposures to the hazardous condition as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the abatement dates required by this citation: (1)Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options; (2)Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design; (3)Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures; (4)Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls; All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by a competent certified safety professional, professional engineer, or other technically qualified person.  STEP 3 -Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.  Date by Which Violation Must be Abated: STEP 1 30 Days by Which Violation Must be Abated: STEP 2 60 Days by Which Violation Must be Abated: STEP 3 90Days.

Issued

Sep 27, 2012

Abate by

Oct 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(ii): Employee training did not include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area:  Employees working in and around wood dust were not informed that wood dust was combustible.